By serving as experts, counselors can help judges, hearing officers, or juries see that all persons receive a fair hearing and that informed decisions are made. Counselors can help to make a difference by learning to express professional opinions in an honest and professional manner. Experienced attorneys recognize the benefits of expert testimony in educating a judge or jury and in helping them to make informed decisions. As a client advocate the attorney calls upon all necessary resources to present the best case for his or her client. There are many benefits for counselors in becoming an expert. First, it is a significant source of income to supplement a counselor's practice or other wages. It can help a counselor to become more visible in the community and put the counselor in contact with many other professionals who are potential referral sources. By learning a new role as an expert witness, a counselor can more fully understand how the unique relationship a counselor has with counseling clients differs from the role a counselor takes as an evaluator and witness. The evaluating experience also serves to broaden the counselor's experience with various types of clients, perhaps not seen in routine practice. By serving as experts, counselors can take their skills from behind the closed doors of the treatment rooms and allow others to see the myriad talents possessed by today's new breed of counselor. (ABL)